Netanyahu hints at new threats to Israel in the Middle East

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at emerging regional threats during his address to the Knesset on Monday as the winter session opened. After listing what he called the achievements of the past two years of war, Netanyahu said that in the Middle East "old threats are taking on new forms, and there are also new threats."

"Our enemies are trying to rearm and challenge us," he said. "In the Middle East, old threats are taking on new forms, and there are also new threats. We stand guard to thwart them. Not everything is known, and not everything will be known. One hand holds the weapon, while the other is extended in peace to those who seek peace with us, and today there are quite a few, even many. The circle of peace in our region and beyond can be expanded. Peace is made with the strong, and everyone knows that the State of Israel is stronger than ever before."

According to political sources, the "new threats" Netanyahu referred to are Turkey and Qatar's growing efforts to expand their regional influence, moves that Israel is monitoring closely. Both countries, which support the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, are seeking to play a central role in shaping the future of the Gaza Strip and in developments in Syria.

These dynamics have reportedly created tensions between Netanyahu's team and the administration of President Donald Trump, particularly over the extent to which Turkey and Qatar should be involved in postwar arrangements. Trump is said to have a personal fondness for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and to hold Qatar in high regard, while Israeli officials view both nations as destabilizing forces.

The issue was believed to be among those discussed in Netanyahu's meetings on Monday with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.